Door for automobile-bodies.



,- J. R LWELGH.

' DOORIOR AUTOMOBILE BODIES. .APPLmATmN' -II LI;5'JUN1'.23, 191s. 1,091,608. I Patented Mar. 31, 1914 2 BHEBTB-SHBET 1.

WITNESSES: i

f9. 6. Wm .M.

1.11. WELOH; DOOR POE AUTOMOBILE BODIES. v APPLICATION FILED JUN; 2311913. 1,091,608; Patented Mar. 31,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 1

WITNESSES: INVENTOR;

viate this objectionable feature I have caused oblique angle to the flange 3 so that the flat abutting contact with the section 1, by an inclined portion 11. The portion 9 is the casing is objectionable, as such edge is usually of irregular form and protrudes the door.-

more or less at the immediate edge thereof so that when a flat surface is seated thereagainst the outer edge of such surface is held spaced from the casing surface and gives a bad fitting efiect. In order to ob' the reentrant portion 6v of the mold to be of transversely dished .form or to stand at an free or outer edge poition only of the flange 5 will have abutting contact with the surface of the casing which is lapped thereby. The outer or swinging edge of the section 1 of the door has its flange 3 stepped, as shown at -7, to coiiperate with the adjacent correspondingly shaped side of the j amb or door casing to oppose the closing movements of The inner section 2 of the door is of suit,- able shape and size to adapt it to fit closely within the flange 3 of the section 1, and has the major portion of its body abutting against the inner side of the body portion of the section 1 and rigidly united thereto, as by electric spot-welding, or in any other suitable manner, the points at which the sectionsare spot-welded being indicated-at 8. The marginal edge portion of the section2 is spaced or offsetfrom the marginal portion of the outer section l, as indicated at 9, to provide-the space 10 thereb'etween, the portion 9 being connected at its inner edge to the body portion of the section 2, which is in provided at its outer edge with an outwardly projecting flange 12, which fits closely Within the flange 3 of the section 1 and terminates substantially flush with the outer edge of such flange. It is thus evident that the flange 3 of the outer door section is braced and reinforced by the marginal off-" set portion of the inner section and the flange 12 thereof, and that the body portions of the sectionsabut throughout the major part of their areas to reduce to a minimum the thickness of the body portion of the door and to provide ample room for the provision of an article carrying pocket between the upholstering, which covers and forms a facing for the inner side of the door, and the outer door wall 1 2, such upholstering not being shown, as it forms no part of the present invention. I i

A nailing-strip 13 of wood or other suitable material for such purpose-is disposed across the top of the door within the space l 10 with its top edge in abutting contact with the flange 3 of the outer section of the door A similar nailing-strip14 is also mountec Within the flange 3.12 of'the door sections portion 11 of the section 2.

flush with the free edges of the flanges 3 -12.

The portion of the flange 3 which extends across the top edge of the door is providedwith a plurality of apertures 15 in register with the top nailingstrips 13 and 14,

through which apertures the shanks of tacks,

screws or other trimming securing means maybe projected and engaged with the-registering strips 13and 14. In some doors the top edge upholstering thereof comprises leather, in others a strip of wood. In either case, however, the upholstering or facing may be secured to the top edge of the door by nailing or otherwise suitably securing the same to the strips 13 and 1.4: through the apertures 15.

In order to give the door additional strength the inner sheet metal section 2 thereof is rovided with a centrally disposed circular rib or emboss 16 and'with ribs or embosses 17 radiating therefrom to the corn er portions of the section and being merged at their outer ends in the inclined or tapered The flange 12 ofthe section 2 is inwardly offset from theflange 3 at the rear or hinged edge of the door for a portion of the length of such edge to provide a narrow elongated recess 18 in which a hinge-plate 19 may be inserted, such recess being of suitable width to snugly receive the hinge-plate thereiniy This plate preferably carries both the upper and lower corresponding hinge members of the door and is rigidly secured to the flanges 3 and 12 by rivets, electric welding, or in any other suitable manner. The securing of the hinge plate 19 in this manner to a door enables an accurate positioning of such plate relative thereto so that no future adjustment is necessary to provide a perfect hanging of the door within its casing, providing, of course, the other member of the hinge is secured in roper position to the casing.

The hol er or casing member 20 of the door lock is provided, in the present. instance adjacent to its front edge, with up. per and lower feet 21, which seat against andare securedto the adjacent portion 9 of the section 2 at the 'front edge of the door by electric welding, riveting or inany other suitable manner, the nailing strip 14 being cut away at the pointwhere the lock is set- 'in. The rear portion of the lock member 20 1 the portion 9 of the door sectio' :2 against which the lock member 20 is seer d is provided with a slot into which lnturned flange or tang 24 at the the lock plate is j q-a flange being of. suitable; size for one to closely receive the other, whereby theyicooperate-to gage the proper position of" the lock. late. relative to the door. and'toretain t e plate and door in proper assembled relation preparatory to thewelding or otherwise suitable securing of-thefeet'ill and 22 to the inner door section. Th bolt 25 of the lock has its nose normally projected through a registering cut or slot-in tlrggfront edge portion of the flange 12 and the registering portionbfltheflange 3 of the door section. A depression 26 isprovided in the intermediate step 7 of the front end of the door in transverse register with the bolt 25 to receive the part of the door casing with which the bolthas locking coaction when the door is in full closed or locked position.

It is evident that I have provided a simple inexpensive and strong construction of door of thetype more particularly intended for use in automobile bodies, and that the two body sections 1 and 2 after being formed into their respective shapes may be quickly assembled and secured one within the other, with a nailing-strip 13, if such strip is required, disposed between the upper spaced edge portions thereof within the flange 3 of the outer section. The hinge-plate l9 and lock 20 may then'be quickly secured in proper accurate position to the door body and the marginalrnailing-str'ip 14 secured upon the oflset portion 9 of the inner section 2 inabutting contact with the flange 12 thereof, thus making the door body ready for receiving the upholstering, which upholstering may vary for cars of different styles and prices.

It is also evident that this construction of door is not only exceptionally strong and durable in its construction, but that the narrowness of the body portion thereof provides pa maximum pocket space therein which is an important feature in automobiles where the utilizing of all available spaceis material.

I Wish itunderstood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims, andthat it may be used for both the frontv and rear doors of automobile bodies or in any other connection for which it may be appropriate.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. In a door of theclass described, an outer sheet metal section substantially plane in cross-sectional contour and having an iiiwardly projecting edge flange, an inner sheet metal section having its body portion resting against and secured to the inner side of the body portion of the outer section with its marginal edge portion inwardly offset! from the marginal edge portion of the outer sectiomand formed at its outer edge with a flange projecting outwardly therefrom in the direction of projection of the flange of the outer section, said flanges laterally abuttingone within the other and. having their edges tern'iinating in adjacent position.

2. In a door of the class described, an outer sheet metal sectionhaving a substantially plane body portion and an inwardly projecting flange at the edge thereof, an inner sheet metal section having its central body portion abutting against and rigidly secured to the inner side of the body portion of the outer section and having its marginal portion offset from the marginal portion of the outer section to provide a space therebetween, said offset marginal portion having a flange at its outer edge rojecting away tromflie outer section n c ose abutting relation to the inner side of the outer section flange and rigidly secured thereto, and a nailing stripmounted on said ofl'set mar-' ginal portion at the outer side thereof.

3. In a door of the class described, an outer [sheet metal section having an inwardly. projecting edge. flange, an inner sheet-metal section secured within the flange of the outer section and having its central body'porti on inwardly offset from its marginal edge portion and in rigid contact with the inner side of the o'utersection body, the marginal portion of said inner section being disposed intermediate the inner and outer edges of said flange and having an out-' wardly extending flange secured tothe inner side of said outer section flange and terminating adjacent to the free edge of saidlatter flange, a nailing strip disposed between the outer section and the marginal portion of the inner section at one edge of the door,

.said outer flange having apertures in regis-' ter therewith, and nailing strip means carried by the marginal portion of the inner section at the outer side thereof.

'4. In a door of the class described, .inner' and outer sheet metal sections having; their edges flanged in the same direction and set .one within the other with their flanges rigidly secured Iogethcr, said inner section having its central body portion inwardly offset relative to its marginal portion and in contact with the body portion of. the outer section.

In a door (if the class described, inner and outer sheet metal sections having their edges flanged in the same direction and set one within the other with their flanges se-' cured together, the central body portion of the inner section being inwardly offset to have abutting contact with the body portion of the outer section and provided with re inforcing ribs, said cured together.

6. In a door of the class described, inner sections being rigidly se- 

